SERVICE MAILERS INC.





 
POSTAL INFO
GOOD NEWS!
NO USPS POSTAGE RATE INCREASE IN MAY 2010!
 
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 5, 2009 “WALLET STYLE” LETTER-SIZED BOOKLET DESIGN APPROVED BY USPS.
This new design came about from the collaboration of mailers in finding a booklet design that meets the needs of our valued customers and also processes well on postal operation equipment.

The following are important key points for the new “Wallet-Style” design:

1. MUST be exactly 4” in height only

2. Length to be 5.2” min. to 8” max.

3. Max. weight 2.5 ozs (not 3 ozs)

4. Will only require two 1.5” or 2” non-perfed tabs (not 3 tabs). However, if mailer is up to 2 ozs can us 1.5” tabs, but if over 2 ozs up to 2.5 ozs must use 2” tabs.

The benefit to this new design is the use of one less tab per mail piece.

If you have any questions regarding your mail piece design, please contact your in-house project coordinator @ 323.292.0133.
 
USPS $0.07 CENT SURCHARGE FOR NON-COMPLIANCE OF MOVE UPDATE TAKES EFFECT ON JAN 4, 2010
The postal service will begin enforcing penalties on Standard and First-Class mail (penalty amount of $0.07 cent will be the same for both classes of mail) that has not met the “Move Update” compliance requirement. The postage assessment will be calculated at time of acceptance if more than the 30 percent tolerance of the addresses that should have been updated by a USPS approved method (such as NCOA) were not updated within 3 months prior to mailing. This assessment will apply to the portion of the mail that exceeded the allowed 30 percent threshold. For example, using the tolerance of 30 percent, if the error ratio within the verification process / time of acceptance measured at 40 percent, the $0.07 cent per piece assessment would be applied to only 10 percent (40 percent measured error rate less 30 percent tolerance) of the total volume in the mailing. Mailers have the option to pay the additional postage or withdraw the mailing.

If you have any questions, please contact your in-house project coordinator @ 323.292.0133.
 
EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 8, 2009 – REVISED MAILING STANDARD FOR LETTER-SIZE BOOKLET MAILERS
Booklet letter-size mailers are designed with a bound edge. Sheets that are fastened with at least two staples in the manufacturing fold (saddle stitched), perfect bound, pressed-glued, or joined together by another binding method that produces an end where pages are attached together are considered booklets. Booklets are open on three sides before sealing. Booklets may be designed with the spine or final fold at the bottom or on the leading edge.

Physical Standards for Booklets

1. Height: not more than 6 inches or less than 3.5 inches high.

2. Length: not more than 10.5 inches or less than 5 inches long.

3. Thickness: not more than 0.25 inch or less than 0.009 inch thick.

4. Weight: not more than 3 ounces.

Booklets that do not comply with the new standard will not be eligible for machinable or automation rates.

The bottom edge of booklets must be a bound edge or fold unless the mail piece is prepared as an oblong booklet. Oblong booklets must be prepared with a spine on the right leading edge. Booklets with a spine on the trailing edge are non-machinable.

Tabs used to seal booklets must not have perforations and be 1-1/2 inch in diameter. Glue spots or a continuous glue line may be used to seal some booklet designs.

No, changes have been made, to the folded letter-size mailers. USPS will publish recommendations in September 2009.

If you have any questions regarding your mail piece design, please contact your in-house project coordinator @ 323.292.0133.

 
EFFECTIVE MARCH 29, 2009 NEW ADDRESS LOCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR FLAT MAIL
As you may already be aware based on our letter we sent on January 28, 2009, the Postal Service adopted new address placement for all levels of flat mail except for 1st class mail.

1. The entire delivery address must fall with the upper portion of mail piece, while maintaining a 1/8” clearance from the edges.

2. The address placement must be parallel or perpendicular to the top edge within the upper portion of the mail piece but not upside down as read in relation to the top edges.

3. Postage (i.e. indicia, stamps, etc.) must have the same “read direction” as the delivery address. This does not apply to periodical mail as it is not always required to display postage.

4. For enveloped or poly wrapped flat mail, the upper or top half is either of the shorter edges of the mail piece. For bound or folded flat mail, the bound or final folded edges must be vertical and on the right side, with an exception for Carrier Route (or Enhanced Carrier Route) saturation mail, where either of the shorter edges can be the top. If the delivery address is on the insert in a poly wrapped flat, address must remain in the upper half throughout processing and delivery.

If you have any questions regarding your mail piece design please contact your in-house project coordinator @ 323.292.0133.
 
Help Reduce Postage Costs
Service Mailers Inc. helps you navigate the complex sea of United States Postal Service regulations. We make sure your mailing goes out at the most economical rate possible by working with you throughout your project to plan, design, produce and fulfill. We also keep you informed about changing postal regulations, and can save you money by ensuring your project meets new USPS standards as soon as they go into effect.
 
USPS MERLIN OVERVIEW

The United States Postal Service is installing new processing equipment called "MERLIN". MERLIN is a mail verification tool that replaces the many current verification steps the United States Postal Service acceptance staff must complete manually to verify customer’s letter and flat-size presorted mailings.

To insure your mail pieces meet MERLIN specifications, Service Mailers strongly recommends you provide us with your artwork & stock specifications, prior to printing. Mail piece design that does not meet Postal regulations/MERLIN specifications can cause you to pay higher postage, delays in the processing and delivery of your mail through the United States Postal System.

Merlin is an acronym for Mail Evaluation Readability Lookup Instrument.

Benefit of Merlin for the United States Postal Service is the hopes to standardize the verification procedures and process the mail faster and in a more timely fashion.

Merlin is a machine that will provide the United States Postal Service with an accurate method of verifying mail. It does the following:


1.Mail Piece Dimensions (height, length, aspect ratio, thickness, window clear space & pre-printed text on mail piece is not in address area)

2. Piece and Weight count


3. Sortation Makeup


4. Postnet Barcode Readability


5. Tray Label Accuracy


6. Endorsements


7. Address & Barcode accuracy


8. Carrier Route Accuracy


9. Walk Sequence Accuracy


10. Line of Travel


11. Indicia or Meter Marking Accuracy


12. Ancillary Endorsement Location


13. Mailing Lists are updated regularly


Service Mailers, strongly suggest that you provide us with your artwork & stock specifications, prior to printing, to ensure your mail pieces meet Merlin specifications.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office for additional information.
 
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